“Too much has been said about stand-up comedy," claims comedian
and comedy coach Bobbie Oliver. "I think it’s time someone said
Nothing - which is why I have written The Tao of Comedy:
Embrace the Pause."

Oliver tosses a grenade into the conventional wisdom regarding
stand-up comedy books and classes, and gives the status quo a
thorough shaking in her new book. “My goal is to de-hack comedy,
one comedian at a time,” she says.

Drawing on Taoist and Zen Buddhist philosophies, The Tao of
Comedy is about comedy as art, not as a means to the perennial
end: fame.

Check out
Bobbie's new book and see comedy in a whole new way.
Available HERE for a SIGNED
COPY OR Amazon
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Kindle.

“I wish I had The Tao of Comedy when I was starting out and am so
glad to have it now! Bobbie’s book is the equivalent of a great
headliner spending the week with you, cheering on your sets from
the back bar.”

Wendy Liebman:

“Before writing this blurb, I was going to read the first sentence
of the Tao of Comedy preface, but I ended up reading the whole
freaking book- I couldn’t put it down! It’s that good. I am
actually still holding it.’

Tom Simmons:

“I love The Tao of Comedy. I hope it sells a million copies.
Actually, part of me hopes no one else reads it… cause then it
will be my secret weapon. In ten years, you will be able to watch
a comedy show and tell who didn’t read this book. He will be
opening for the comic who did.”

This book is like no other stand-up comedy book out there. It does
not give you stringent formulas for joke writing or promise to
make you rich and famous. No gimmicks. No props. No wacky
catchphrases. No false personas or one-dimensional characters.
This book is about learning the art of stand-up comedy. Comedy as
a spiritual path to disover who you really are and what you want
to express. This path will make you a better writer, performer and
businessperson, and help you lighten up a little in the process.
Look at stand-up comedy in a new way. Come with me, grasshopper,
and we will learn the Tao of Comedy.

Bobbie Oliver is a 25-year veteran stand-up comic, writer,
producer and comedy coach living in Los Angeles. Owner of Tao
Comedy Studio, Bobbie has taught comedy to hundreds of comedians
in Los Angeles. She has appeared on ABC, TNN, Style, NPR, Comedy
TV, Sirius XM Radio and was called one of “the best comics in
America” by the New York Post. Bobbie has performed in comedy
clubs, colleges and hell gigs all over America.

More Testimonials for The Tao of Comedy: Embrace the Pause

“Never before, in my
knowledge, has a book been written that get so completely to the
soul of creativity.”-JJ Miller

"The only how-to book on
comedy I ever picked up that I couldn't put down. Bobbie Oliver
puts into words how one's life can be transformed by stand-up
and how to do stand-up so it transforms your life." -Jane Alcala

This aptly describes her own book; it rings deep and true
because it is based in the reality of learned truth, compassion,
the way, in hard experience all anchored in authenticity,
integrity and artistry.

I would have to say that for me personally, this is the best
overall book on comedy I’ve ever read. This book touches upon
aspects of comedy you don’t often ever hear discussed such as
spirit, integrity, philosophy, ethics, and authenticity. This is
a book written by an artist for those who consider comedy an art
as I do, and I love how she delves into the tension between
commerce and artistic expression. I enjoy that she treats her
readers with respect, she’s honest and forthright but also
considerate and clear. She explains WHY you need to do things,
she just doesn’t tell you what to do.

I’ve been doing comedy over three years now, just now getting
paid doing showcases and this book gave me guidance, hope,
inspiration, useable techniques and overall strategy. It spoke
to me in a voice I understood and was willing to trust and
articulated things that rang true to my own personal experience.
Her example embodies the comedian, teacher and person I would
like to grow into being more like.

This book gives me confidence that I’ve been going about it the
right way, that finding your voice and persona is really all
about being true to yourself. On page one of the preface, Bobbie
opens with, “Your comedy, your art, is an invitation to your
Self. I have chosen to follow comedy as a spiritual path. What
religion and I? I am comic.” Amen sister!

I also loved this passage from page two, “I also put forth this
book as an answer to the people who have brought comedy down to
the level of bullying. There is an ever-growing tangent of
comics who use their position to be mean for the sake of being
mean...I choose a nobler profession than Bully. I choose Social
Philosopher. I choose Advocate for those without a microphone. I
choose Artist and Seeker.” I feel like Bobbie is also an
advocate for us who like her possess integrity, authenticity,
have something to say and not just something to sell. She speaks
for me and to me.

The biggest surprise and what she emphasizes the most, is the
pause. The effective use of silence and pauses. I’m really
getting how melodic and musical comedy can be, always knew that
but to have it explicitly expressed and analyzed is an eye
opener and real advantage. Slow down, enjoy the now.

Just a real gem and joy of a book! I’ve never been to a comedy
workshop before, but I can’t imagine there would be anyone else
I would even consider going to after reading her book!”-John
Lee Grogan Jr.

“The
Tao of Comedy: Embrace the Pause helped me to connect my
creativity and my everyday struggles. In reading it I was able
to find my own voice, and found much comfort in using it. Thank
you Bobbie for helping me kick start my dream!”-Lonisone
Marshall

“This
book is a turning point in the history of comedy as an art form.
Whether you're a professional or a newcomer, Bobbie Oliver's is
the definitive book on stand-up comedy. Rather than teaching new
comics rigid joke formulas and inauthentic personas, Bobbie
teaches the tools any emerging comedian would need to develop
their own style and material. For veteran comics, this book
offers a philosophical approach to comedy that helps put you in
the right state of mind to find and develop new material or get
through writer's block and various stresses. You'll be stunned
at how she's managed to boil down and articulate some of the
little tricks and nuances of stand up you've gained through
years of experience into such a concise methodology. I was
skeptical of some of the eastern philosophy and meditation stuff
but Bobbie applies it to comedy in a way that's challenging and
really has helped put me in the mindset to write and perform.
For my fellow female comics, this book addresses the added
challenges of being a woman in comedy in a very real way-
Bobbie's coming from a place of experience and respect.

When Bobbie
addresses the social politics in comedy and in society in
general as they relate to comedy, she does so in a way that
acknowledges the complexity of certain social issues. Bobbie
never panders or acts as though certain subjects should be 'off
limits.' Rather than appeal for censorship, she appeals to the
comedian: Will you mine the same old stereotypes and hack jokes
comics have been telling for years, or will you take a serious
look at our prejudices and come up with something new and funny?

Almost every art form- painting, poetry, music, etc., has had
its own techniques to help artists improve and build upon their
own work and the medium as a whole. Now, thanks to Bobbie
Oliver, so does comedy. “

-Hana
Michels

"After reading The Tao of
Comedy I no longer fear going on stage to perform. Instead
I've learned to use that fear to my advantage. "
-Kevin Thomas

"One of my purpose in life is to do stand-up comedy......I did
it for about 4 years during the heyday of stand-up in the
mid-late 80's, stopped but I knew one day I will get back behind
the mike. So enters Bobbie Oliver........who is born to teach
stand-up. I believe Bobbie's purpose in life is to teach,
nurture, support and keep the laughter alive.

I took a workshop with her,
and I knew she must be in my life to 'fan my flames.' Been a
'magic carpet ride' with Bobbie.-literally, my life is on fire.

I would say to take a
workshop with her is the best, but the book The Tao of Comedy
Embrace the Pause will embrace you and help your standup a
thousand fold. And for the beginners, how lucky you are to have
a book that will guide, teach and have you get in touch with
your 'universe' inside you.

“I enjoyed this book! Bobbie
Oliver takes a pragmatic and helpful approach to creating
comedy, and it's very readable and enjoyable. She highly
recommends meditation, which is great for me, but even if you're
not into it there is plenty of good advice in this book.”-Thomas Bickle

“This is the perfect book
providing comics (and useful for many actors in general, as
well) advice on what to do on stage, It provides much useful
advice that should be followed by most anyone hoping to be a
comic (or even an actor). It also contains humor and jokes
making it a fun read even for people who never want to set foot
on a stage yet wish to learn about comedy. This is a fun book
about being fun on stage.” -Leon Czikowsky

“I think Bobbie nails it. In
a way this book is more than just a book for comedians, it’s for
anyone who wants to truly express themselves; it’s about being
open enough to allow yourself to truly experience of the moment.
If you're a human being there is something you can get out of
this book. If you can't find it check your pulse.”
-Gerry Albitre

“Bobbie Oliver is not only a
comedian, she is a comedy teacher. Her true calling in life is
to teach comedy. She has taught thousands of students the art of
comedy. I started with a blank sheet of paper. I would never
have thought in a million years I would be able to stand up on
stage with ut passing out from fear. Everything in this book is
exactly what Bobbie taught me about comedy. If I can do it, so
can you. Inside this book is her life with comedy and every
secret she knows to make you a comedian.” -Mike Bagack